Dispenser with rotary conveyer type trap chamber



July 29,1947.

w. A. WOOD DISPENSER WITH ROTARY CONVEYER TYPE TRAP CHAMBER Filed June 10, 1942 IN V EN TOR.

i aienie d July 29, 1947 DISPENSER WITH ROTARY CONVEYER TYPE TRAP CHAMBER William A. Wood, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 10, 1942, Serial No. 446,510

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for dispensing material and is more specifically concerned with such deVices which are adapted to dispense material comprising a multiplicity of relatively small particles and to strictly control the point of disposition of said material.

Possibly the most undesirable feature of tooth powder as a dentifrice and hence one of the principal inhibiting factors in its being widely accepted is the fact that heretofore it has been most diificult to apply to a toothbrush. The reason for this difiiculty is that the dispensing apparatus on the tooth powder containers have not been capable of controlling, to any substantial extent, the direction of flow, the speed of flow, and the size of the stream of the tooth powder as it travels out of the container in the general direction of the toothbrush. The result is that substantial quantities of the tooth powder miss the brush and fall into the lavatory, onto the floor, or elsewhere, not only occasioning waste of the tooth powder itself, but also causing considerable work in cleaning up the misdirected powder. To avoid such occurrences many a user adopts the expedient of pouring a quantity of the tooth powder into the palm of his hand and then dipping the bristles of .the toothbrush into it, but such a procedure is highly undesirable for the reason that substantial amounts are wasted due to the inability to use all that is on hand and for the reason that the palm of the hand is usually well covered with a sticky paste when the tooth cleaning operation has been completed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device for dispensing tooth powder and other materials which is capable of controlling to a very considerable extent the place of deposit of the material being handled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for tooth powder which is capable of depositing upon the bristles of a tooth brush substantially the entire quantity of tooth powder being dispensed.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a dispenser adapted to make controlled and distinct deposits of tooth powder upon a toothbrush or upon toothbrushes in relatively rapid succession.

An additional object is to provide a dispenser which is adapted to strictly control the placement of a discharge on an object temporarily introduced beneath it.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a dispenser for tooth powder and other material which is adapted to detachably engage a reservoir or container of the material being dispensed.

A still further object is to disclose novel dispenser construction.

In general in its preferred form my invention includes a member having an annular surface adapted to rotate in close proximity to concave housing surface disposed to the side of said member, said member being provided with pockets in its curved peripheral surface and the top and bottom portions of said member being out of contact with the housing. Housing structure extends upwardly and outwardly from the upper edge of the said concave housing portions. Housing structure of some nature, whether it all be concave or not, preferably extends on all sides, as opposed to the top and bottom, of said member.

In order that a more clear and concise understanding of my invention may be had, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 'l| of Fig. 1 having added however an elevation of a shaving brush disposed in operative relationship to the dispenser.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 1. i

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a rotatable member adapted for use'in my invention.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, the rotatable member comprisesa sphere or ball 40 provided with pockets AI and 42 adapted to receive the material being dispensed and to carry it from the housing structure 43 disposed thereabove and including, as illustrated, the funnel or inverted cone-shaped section 44 and the cylindrical section 45. Of course the shape of this housing structure is not essential except that it should serve to direct the material which it contains onto that portion ofsaid sphere 40 which i exposed to the interior of said housing through the opening 45a. Operatively connected to the lower end portion of the funnel 44 and in communication therewith through the said opening 45a is thespherical shaped housing 46 in which said sphere 40 is rotatably received and adjacent the lower portion of which a discharge port-41 is provided. The construction is preferably such that the sphere .40 is received within the spherical shaped housing 46 relatively snugly in order that material contained in the pockets Aland 42- Iwill be held against displacement from saidpoclg ets while passing from filling position to discharging position. Clearly, however, it is not necessary that the ouside of the housing 46 be spherical or even that all of the interior be spherical and/or in close proximity to the sphere 40. On the other hand it is desirable that the bottom portions of the chute structure, the top portion of the convave, rotatable member receiving structure or some other means be so disposed as to be adapted to strike the material being dispensed in order that the pocket 4| and 42 leave the housing 43 substantially level full. In the precise construction shown, the ball 48 is provided with an axle 49 having its extended ends mounted in suitable hearings in the spherical housing 46. Such axle may, however, be eliminated and any suitable structure, such for example, as slight tits on opposite sides of the ball 40 adapted to be received in suitable registering recesses on the inner periphery of the spherical housing 46, may be substituted in its stead. As a matter of fact such structure may be dispensed with completely in instances where it is not important that the ball follow a particular course of rotation or where said ball is rotated with care; however, inconvenience sometimes arises when the ball is free to rotate in all directions within the spherical housing for the pockets 4| and 42 may become disaligned with the intake and discharge openings of said housing, in-which case neither filling nor expelling occurs. About the discharge opening 41 of the spherical housing 46 I have provided a flange 50 which in the illustration is in the nature of a flare although such is in no sense essential. The flange 5 serves as a guide forstraying bits of the material being dispensed. As means for rotating the ball or sphere 40 in order to move the pockets 4| and 42 from fillin position to discharging position and back to filling position, I have provided a cut-out 5i in the spherical housing 46 whereby the finger or other member may be placed in frictional contact with the ball 40 and then moved the length of the said cut-out 5| rotating the said ball as it moves. It will be noted that the cut out is disposed somewhat to one side of the housing, an expedient adopted in order to avoid the pockets 4| and 42 coming into communication with said out out as they travel. Any other suitable means for rotating the ball may, of course, be substituted for that shown.

In operating the form of my invention which has been detailed herein for illustrative purposes, the material to be dispensed is introduced into the upper portion of the dispenser housing above the sphere 40 where there is a continuous tendency of flow toward the top of said sphere as will be apparent from the construction as described. When said sphere is in a position of rotation such that one of the pockets 4| or 42 is exposed to the material in the housing through the opening 45A, the pocket so exposed becomes filled with said material due to the gravitational drain into said'pocket. Substantial rotation of the sphere 40 then brings the filled pocket to a position'beneath or within the wall of the spherical housing as simultaneously causing the material immediately above the said filled pocket tobe struck leaving the said pocket approximately level full. Assuming that the pockets on the sphere are of the same capacity, an equal amount will be renow in inverted position and there being now no support beneath the material in the pocket, said material leaves said Docket due, at least primarily, to gravitational attraction. The comminuted material having been deposited in said pocket only a very short period of time prior to its being discharged therefrom, has, of course, had no opportunity to cake therein; also the said material is not substantially packed in the pocket. The result is that when support is removed from beneath, the material falls from the pocket without any shaking or agitation of the dispenser being required so that there is no occasion for its falling in any other direction or in any other path than directly downwardly. Thus exceedingly accurate control of the point of deposition is secured. In addition to this expedient, the flange 50 afiords additional insurance of proper deposition as mentioned heretofore.

In the member 53 I have provided means which may optionally be included in my device for adapting it to the handling of material the individual particles of which are exceedingly small in size. This rubber gasket or-other suitable means operates-to insure against any appreciable amount of the material leaking out between the peripheral surface of the rotatable member and the inner concave surface of the housing. This elemerit '53 has its lower edge preferably pressing intimately but resiliently against the periphery of the rotatable member and it functions not only to minimize leakage due to vibration and gravity but they also function substantially as a scraper to clean from the outer, main periphery of the rotatable member any particles inclined to adhere thereto. Obviously the exact points of anchoring the member may be varied and it may extend further upwardly in the housing than shown. As amatter of fact its construction may be widely "altered. For example, it may be a spring urged metal unit; again the 'adjacent conjcavefhousingstructure or parts thereof may be adjustable as to position relative to the rotatable members and/or may be held by spring load thereagainst. Of course, if the particular rotatable member is rotated in only one direction'the likelihood of there being necessity forthemember 53 to be a full ring is reduced for such would be required then only in case the material being dispensed were so fine that it could leak outasa result of gravitational attractionalone.

When employing the-embodiment of my invention illustrated in the dispensing of tooth'powder onto a, tooth brush or of shaving powder onto a shaving brush, the latter being a task at which this particular construction is 'most'a'pt, I prefer "to "insert at least a portion of the free ends of the bristles A of the brush B within the flange structureEil through the open bottom 'thereof'as shown'in Fig. 2. As also illustrated in Tig. 2,'the peripheral bristles may be in "contact with'the inner surface of said flange. When thisprocedure is pursued almost absolutely'n'o spilling or wastin of the powder occurs.

'Inorder :to inform the user of this disclosure of some digressions which he may make 'fromthe preferred forms of my device while yet providing a workable construction, I shall'mentio'n limited numbers. of permissible alterations and eliminations. The enumeration is not, however, intended to be taken as'exhaustive. V, 7

V Therotatable member may be of iany's l table constructi-onsuch that it is adaptedto-beprovided withperipheralpocketswhich also may be of any appropriate nature'or number. For example, said rotatable member may be of a shape other than that illustrated, including oval, and it is not necessary that said pockets be of any precise dimensions relative to the size of the port or ports, if there be more than one, through which they communicate with the supply source. The portion of the housing which is above the rotatable member may be widely varied in its construction, design and contour and it is not essential that it be adapted to be detachably or otherwise attached to a container, the design of which, if present, is, of course, immaterial. As a matter of fact the portion of that housing above the rotatable member may be substantially eliminated, in which case said rotatable member and the parts adjacent thereto may be adapted to be detachably or permanently operatively connected to a container. If present and used in conjunction with a container, the housing may be designed to engage any desired type of container. If the rotatable member is revolved consistently in only one direction, that portion of the adjacent concave housing structure toward which the roll does not rotate may be eliminated and suitable means, such for example as a member 53, may be provided for preventing material from sifting out of the housing along the proximate portion of said rotatable member. It is not imperative that the portion'of the housing below the rotatable member be entirely closed in its generally vertical portions and said housing structure may be much varied from the illustration in its extent, structure, mounting, design, disposition and otherwise. It need not be a part of the balance of the housing structure and it may even be eliminated; however, the latter is not recommended. In certain applications it may be desirable to station a plurality of hoppers side by side and to provide an extended rotatable memher or a plurality of connected smaller rotatable members in said hoppers. Such an expedient may be employed for example where it is desired to dispense quantities of various materials onto a conveyor or into a receptacle or receptacles for mixing or for any purpose.

The uses to which my device may be put and the different materials which it may handle are numerous. As has been indicated, it is especially adapted to handle material comprising relatively fine individual particles. It may, however, be employed to dispense various other materials including semi-liquids and semi-solids. If constructed sufliciently tightly, it may even handle liquids. The fact that my device is adapted to consistently dispense uniformly measured quantities of material gives it application in many fields in addition to those of dispensing tooth powder and shaving powder. It may be used commercially in handling various materials, including flour, ammunition powder, and drink powders. It may also be used in the home to directedly dispense face powder. If more than one pocket be provided in the roll, the sizes of theindividual pockets may vary, if desired, to provide larger and smaller deposits.

In addition to its numerous other merits it should be noted that my device provides construction whereby the material being dispensed is locked in so far as the dispensing unit is concerned except when the rotatable member is being operated. Thus when my device is formed as an integral part of a toothpowder container, said container may be dropped on the floor or deliberately inverted with-out powde escaping from the housing.

In the ensuing claims when reference is made to the lower portion of the housing structure or words to that efiect are employed, the dispensing position of the device is contemplated. For example, when my device is formed integrally with a tooth powder can, it will commonly be in an inverted position with respect to the views shown in the drawing, as the said can stands in an up-right, non-discharging position.

While I have described embodiments of my invention and certain modifications thereof for illustrative purposes, one skilled in the art will be able to make alterations, modifications and eliminations in the specific constructions described and this without departing from the true spirit and scope of my invention. I wish therefore to be limited herein only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser of the type described comprising a storage receptacle provided with a discharge opening, a substantially spherical valve having a pocket on its periphery, a valve housing closely embracing said valve, said valve housing being provided with an intake opening which is in communication with the discharge opening of said receptacle and being also provided with a discharge opening together with a control opening, the latter opening providing access to said valve whereby an operator may place his finger in contact with said valve to rotate the same, and pintle structure for said valve for limiting to a single course the rotation of said valve in the valve housing, the relationship of said valve housing openings to one another and to said pintle structure being such that rotation of said valve through its predetermined course brings said pocket successively into registration with the intake and discharge openings of said valve housing without placing it in registration with said valve control opening.

2. A dispenser of the type described comprising a storage receptacle provided with a discharge opening, a substantially spherical valve having a pocket on its periphery, a valve housing closely embracing said valve, said valve housing being provided with an intake opening which is in communication with the discharge opening of said receptacle and being also provided with a discharge opening together with an elongated valve control slot, the said slot providing access to said valve whereby an operator may place his finger in contact with said valve to rotate the same, and pintle structure for said valve for limiting to a single course the rotation of said valve in the valve housing, the relationship of said valve housing openings and slot to one another and to said pintle structure being such that the length of said pintle structure is substantially normal to the direction of an imaginary line connecting the central portions of said openings and such that said slot is offset laterally from the path defined by said valve pocket as said valve is rotated on said pintle structure, the length of said slot being approximately normal to the length of said pintle structure, whereby said valve may be rotated through an appreciable are by a single engagement thereof by said operator through said elongated slot and whereby substantial rotation of said valve results in said pocket being successively brought into registration with the respective said openings vn'thout 7 charge opening, a rotatable valve having a pocket on its periphery, and a valve housing closely embracing said valve, said valve housing beingprovided with an intake opening which is in communication with the discharge opening of said receptacle and being also provided with adischarge opening together with a control opening, the latter opening providing access .to said valve whereby an operator may place his finger in contact with said valve to rotate the same, the construction being such that said valve is limited to a single course of rotation within said valve housing and the relationship of openings and parts being such that rotation of said valve through its predetermined course brings said pocket successively into registration with the intake and discharge openings of said valve housing without placing it in registration with said valve control opening.

WILLIAM A. WOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 20 Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Fond Sept. 15, 1936 Richert Sept. 15, 1936 McLean Nov. 3, 1925 Pitner Feb. 11, 1908 Wel'cker Sept. 24, 1918 Akeson June 8, 1897 Morin June 24, 1930 Bobrick Apr. 29, 1941 Rohde Jan. 4, 1938 Church July 23, 1940 'Braidwood Mar. 25, 1941 Church Aug. 16, 1938 Jopling Sept. 14, 1909 De Lawrence Sept. 7, 1909 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Feb. 15, 1934 Switzerland Dec. 10, 1907 

